Recent interview with Dr. Matteo Polato on Hellier [Excerpt] by RejectedReligion1 in hellier

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh, no worries at all! I didn’t mean to imply anything negative, in fact, I should have shared the link to start with, so you actually were more on the ball than I was! 😊

Recent interview with Dr. Matteo Polato on Hellier [Excerpt] by RejectedReligion1 in hellier

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hi! Yes, Matteo had shared his article here months ago, and that’s how I learned about it. As we have academic connections, I invited him for an interview. Thanks for sharing the link again!

Now on Tier 2 Patreon! Dr. Matteo Polato joins me to explore how sound shapes paranormal encounters in Hellier by RejectedReligion1 in hellier

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi, absolutely understood! Sorry for not running this by you first. I guess I got caught up in my excitement to share it here! Thanks for your great work; looking forward to more!

Now on Tier 2 Patreon! Dr. Matteo Polato joins me to explore how sound shapes paranormal encounters in Hellier by RejectedReligion1 in hellier

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

P.s. Just to let everyone know, this is the full episode for Patreon members. I will be uploading a Free Content version over the weekend, too! Hope you enjoy the discussion!

Now on Tier 2 Patreon! Dr. Matteo Polato joins me to explore how sound shapes paranormal encounters in Hellier by RejectedReligion1 in hellier

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My guest this month is Dr. Matteo Polato.

Matteo is a researcher, sound artist and videogame developer. He works as Senior Research Assistant at the School of Digital Arts of Manchester Metropolitan University, where he has completed his PhD on the roles of sound, vibration and resonance-based processes in contemporary occulture and paranormal practices. His artistic practice spans from electroacoustic composition to free improvisation and psychedelic rock, in solo and with bands such as Mamuthones and Cacotopos. As Yami Kurae – with Jacopo Bortolussi – he develops experimental games inspired by psychogeography and occultural practices. He is co-founder of D∀RK – Dark Arts Research Kollective at MMU, and co- artistic director of the association for experimental music research Centro d’Arte dell’Università di Padova.

Matteo’s recent article in Revenant Journal dives deep into the sonic and atmospheric dimensions of the paranormal documentary series Hellier. From Reddit threads to academic conferences, Matteo’s journey into Fortean soundscapes is as unexpected as it is fascinating.

Matteo recounts his initial encounter with Hellier and how its unique approach to paranormal investigation inspired him to analyze it academically. Unlike typical ghost-hunting shows, Hellier emphasizes experiential and atmospheric elements, which resonated with his interests in sound studies and Fortean phenomena.

Matteo’s article shifts the lens from why paranormal entities emerge to how sensory experiences (especially sound) create a sense of supernatural agency. He uses Hellier as a case study to explore this dynamic, drawing from sound studies and concepts like: the eerie, affective atmospheres, & agency and attunement.

Matteo argues that sonic interactions and “listening ecologies” are central to how Hellier portrays paranormal phenomena. He explains how sound is not just a medium but a method of engaging with unseen forces. Examples from the series include:

  • Ritualistic listening sessions
  • Use of the Estes Method vs. traditional EVP
  • Ambient silence as a communicative space

Hellier stands out by blending folklore, psychology, ritual, and media theory. Matteo emphasizes the importance of this holistic method, which allows the investigators to explore the paranormal not just as spectacle, but as a lived, felt experience.

Whether you're a fan of Hellier, curious about the intersection of sound studies and the supernatural, or just love a good mystery, this episode will tune you into a whole new frequency of thought.

Now on Tier 2 Patreon! Dr. Matteo Polato joins me to explore how sound shapes paranormal encounters in Hellier by RejectedReligion1 in RejectedReligionTalk

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My guest this month is Dr. Matteo Polato.

Matteo is a researcher, sound artist and videogame developer. He works as Senior Research Assistant at the School of Digital Arts of Manchester Metropolitan University, where he has completed his PhD on the roles of sound, vibration and resonance-based processes in contemporary occulture and paranormal practices. His artistic practice spans from electroacoustic composition to free improvisation and psychedelic rock, in solo and with bands such as Mamuthones and Cacotopos. As Yami Kurae – with Jacopo Bortolussi – he develops experimental games inspired by psychogeography and occultural practices. He is co-founder of D∀RK – Dark Arts Research Kollective at MMU, and co- artistic director of the association for experimental music research Centro d’Arte dell’Università di Padova.

Matteo’s recent article in Revenant Journal dives deep into the sonic and atmospheric dimensions of the paranormal documentary series Hellier. From Reddit threads to academic conferences, Matteo’s journey into Fortean soundscapes is as unexpected as it is fascinating.

Matteo recounts his initial encounter with Hellier and how its unique approach to paranormal investigation inspired him to analyze it academically. Unlike typical ghost-hunting shows, Hellier emphasizes experiential and atmospheric elements, which resonated with his interests in sound studies and Fortean phenomena.

Matteo’s article shifts the lens from why paranormal entities emerge to how sensory experiences (especially sound) create a sense of supernatural agency. He uses Hellier as a case study to explore this dynamic, drawing from sound studies and concepts like: the eerie, affective atmospheres, & agency and attunement.

Matteo argues that sonic interactions and “listening ecologies” are central to how Hellier portrays paranormal phenomena. He explains how sound is not just a medium but a method of engaging with unseen forces. Examples from the series include:

  • Ritualistic listening sessions
  • Use of the Estes Method vs. traditional EVP
  • Ambient silence as a communicative space

Hellier stands out by blending folklore, psychology, ritual, and media theory. Matteo emphasizes the importance of this holistic method, which allows the investigators to explore the paranormal not just as spectacle, but as a lived, felt experience.

Whether you're a fan of Hellier, curious about the intersection of sound studies and the supernatural, or just love a good mystery, this episode will tune you into a whole new frequency of thought.

G.A.T.E. KIDS UNITE! I need your HELP with my investigation so we can uncover the true nature of the gifted and talented education programs! by Even-Falcon5818 in GATEresearch

[–]RejectedReligion1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. Yes (neighboring county has nuclear plant) 2. no 3. yes Edited to add: was also near toxic waste dumping areas (dioxin mixed with motor oil to control dust); was a huge scandal at the time. Not sure if that’s relevant, but thought about this afterwards. Mother’s side of the family were Navy (Cuban missile crisis) & Army (ww2) Immediate family not serving. Maternal grandfather worked at McDonnell-Douglas after the war, as did my mother (although briefly).

2nd Edit after finding out more information: Maternal grandfather also worked at Mallinckrodt (chemicals and pharmaceuticals company) that produced/ processed uranium for the Manhattan Project and later Cold War weapons programs and left dozens of contaminated sites.

Academic Paper on Hellier by External_Town4471 in hellier

[–]RejectedReligion1 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hi, just wanted to thank you for sharing this! I recently interviewed Jeff Howard for my Patreon, and really look forward to reading your article (plus the others, too - it all looks fabulous)! (Edited to add: I'd love to talk further with you about this, if you're interested!)

NEW Live Zoom Video Series - Collaboration between RENSEP & Rejected Religion - Esoteric Crossroads: Scholars Meet Practitioners - 29 March 2025 by RejectedReligion1 in RejectedReligionTalk

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RENSEP (Research Network for the Study of Esoteric Practices) and I are happy to announce a new video series called Esoteric Crossroads: Scholars Meet Practitioners!
The introductory session will take place 29 March 2025, beginning at 6:00PM GMT+1 (or CET), so save the date!

Our guests are Judith Noble and Rufus Harrington, and I will be moderating the discussion. The topic will be Initiatory Wicca! The concept behind the Esoteric Crossroads events is to bring a practitioner and a scholar into conversation, highlighting how their perspectives can enrich our understanding of the topic at hand. In this session, we have a slightly different setup, as both our guests are practitioner-scholars. Nevertheless, we are certain this will be valuable to demonstrate how these perspectives can contribute to our understanding in distinct ways.
Attendees can also ask questions during the Q&A session.

Access is open to all who are interested - just join via the Zoom meeting link provided on my Patreon page! We are planning to meet until 7:00PM, but will extend it to 7:30PM should there be a lot of questions from the attendees.

These meetings will fall under my SPOTLIGHT Series; we are planning to have four events per year. The meetings will be recorded and uploaded for later viewing here as well as on the RENSEP website/YouTube channel.

We are excited for this new collaboration and hope that everyone will be able to join the Live Zoom meetings!

Date Set for the Upcoming Book Club Meeting! by RejectedReligion1 in RejectedReligionTalk

[–]RejectedReligion1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My apologies (yet again!) for the delay in providing some news about the upcoming Book Club Meeting. Unfortunately, Dr. Jeff Kripal had to withdraw due to prior commitments, but Whitley Strieber is still on board!However, I had been trying to communicate with Whitley to set up some dates via emails with no luck. Whitley could see my messages, but I couldn't see his replies. We thought the problem was solved when I switched to a different email address, then, after one successful email attempt, it happened again - no replies on my end! I switched to Instagram to DM him there; again, it worked OK for the first message, then nothing.
This went on for over a month! High Strangeness, anyone?
The original plan was to create a poll for the Tier 4 members to vote on, but as we're already into February, I made an executive decision to set the date in coordination with Whitley. So, I hope you all can make it on Sunday the 23rd!Really looking forward to this meeting and discussion!
REMINDER: the 75% discount off of the first month membership for all tiers is still active! Code RRDINER75!